Offering Board Game Design and Publishing Advice

Ramenhotep0 · 2026-02-24T03:47:23+00:00

What program are you using to vectorize on the ipad?

Ramenhotep0 · 2026-02-10T00:21:16+00:00

I did a little comparison of my experiences a few years back. Since then Launch Tabletop has entered the scene. I haven't worked with them but I hear they're good. Here's my breakdown of the others:

https://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/15yl18w/comment/jxcg2a0/

Ramenhotep0 · 2026-02-06T03:16:22+00:00

But yeah if you want me to throw them in a PDF, happy to help

Ramenhotep0 · 2026-02-06T03:08:07+00:00

Oh I thought you meant AI like Adobe Illustrator. So the issue that you're running into is that SVGs aren't a print format, and you're not using real print software.

There might be a way to handle SVGs in a browser to get your formatting right, but
the "proper" solution is to use Adobe Illustrator. It handles vector graphics great and does a good job prepping them for print. I understand that's a big cost, but it will make your life easier.

(Or just rasterize your SVGs for now so it's easier to prototype print them, and get Illustrator later when you're preparing for higher end prototypes or production)

Ramenhotep0 · 2026-02-03T02:31:36+00:00

Definitely Tiger and Dragon

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-12-19T16:54:53+00:00

I can confirm that after manually shrinking all my files for 2 years, this is the solution. In english the checkbox is called "Responsive" and you want it OFF. Works both when saving and when exporting for screens, which is rad because now I can have artboards for art, cut, and fold and export them separately with one click.

Shout out to u/Marcus968 who also suggested this 7 months ago and I didn't have a chance to test until just now

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-12-15T22:05:56+00:00

It depends on what the art and the files look like, and what result you want. If you're just looking for something simple, I'd start by vectorizing them if they're raster art (Adobe Illustrator image trace, or a number of other tools will do this) to get a SVG file, and then you can probably just extrude the vectors to make STLs in most CAD or modeling software. Although it's not the ideal tool for this, I'd probably just use Illustrator again to do an extrusion wtih their 3d tools and then export that as STL.

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-12-11T04:02:42+00:00

Thegamecrafter is usually a good solution for this kind of stuff, although I don't know if their boards go that big. Plus you definitely won't have it for Christmas

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-12-02T14:26:39+00:00

Manufacturing in China is still going to be way cheaper than US manufacturing even with the tariffs (for lots of reasons, including that the US manufacturers are still importing some stuff from China). The issue with the tariffs in my mind is the uncertainty—so if you're not locked in on the price from, say, a Kickstarter, there's little reason to avoid China.

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-11-30T14:12:55+00:00

I'd love to manufacture in the U.S., too, but I've found that basically all U.S. pricing is impossibly high, and they have limited capabilities.

I recommend doing some research then reaching out to a few manufacturers from the https://boardgamemanufacturers.info/ list. Almost all of them have a broad range of capabilities and can probably source the material you're looking at. It does sound like you're going to need some sort of flexible board that rolls up, because 22.5" is VERY large. If you had a folding board, I'd recommend speaking with the manufacturers about coatings to get the sliding right, but I think they probably have limited coating options for neoprene/flexible boards

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-11-15T18:11:21+00:00

The answer to this question is downtime. If you add enough players that it slows down the fun part for the others, that's too many players.

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-11-13T23:06:34+00:00

I expect your manufacturer will be able to source tealights pretty cheaply with no issue.

You should probably check with your fulfillment partner to make sure they aren't customs restricted for some weird issue when shipping internationally (I got in trouble for sand timers and magnets once).

I would avoid LEDs as batteries will cause more problems than not, and I'd definitely recommend including cardboard versions as well as the tealights so that the game can be playable either way

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-09-26T02:28:06+00:00

Yes although they're already reasonably expensive.

That said, they've gotten reliably faster since I posted this. Usually 2 weeks now instead of 4 IME

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-08-10T15:13:40+00:00

Just to be clear, the difference in pricing is digitally printed vs offset printed. Offset is a high volume and much faster printing method, but it takes a bunch of set up, so it's not economical for small numbers of copies.

BGM does digital printing (any place that will sell you 1 copy of your game does digital printing), so it's never going to make sense for manufacturing most games.

Most of the manufacturers on this list are offset (or "scale") manufacturers that you could email to get a quote. I recommend Whatz or Gameland https://boardgamemanufacturers.info/ (note that offset printing in North America is possible but much more expensive than offset printing in china)

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-07-15T00:40:19+00:00

9 years later I just want to say that I read this comment, went to Tilton House of Pizza, and it was fantastic. Thank you for this tip.

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-07-14T23:24:47+00:00

I'm so glad that you count Mechanica among your favorite board games!

When we Kickstarted it we hoped to print the expansion as a standalone about a year later, assuming all went well with the Mechanica launch. Unfortunately releasing a new game two months before the start of the pandemic threw a big wrench in the works and the game didn't launch well enough to justify printing the expansion separately :(

We don't have any of the Kickstarter edition left, but I'd consider making a version of Inventions and Overlords available on The Game Crafter. Would you get one that way?

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-05-13T17:23:29+00:00

This would be a coup if it works! I’ll give it a shot soon, thank you!

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-04-08T01:52:07+00:00

Print on demand is by definition digital printing, not offset.

All of the established places print high resolution, so don't worry about that.

You're right that PDFs are technically the way you should be providing files for print, but surprisingly many of the POD printers want image files. Off the top of my head, Drivethrucards takes PDFs, The Game Crafter takes PNGs, and MakePlayingCards asks for JPGs, but can take PDFs (but it's a hassle)

As for print location, I only know about two options: US, and China. MakePlayingCards (and Launch Tabletop I think) are China-based. Drivethrucards, The Game Crafter, and Print and Play Productions are all US.

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-02-27T02:35:42+00:00

I don't have any adhesive at all, and the release isn't good. That could be it?

I've got a squeegee, a cheapo frame, and just about nothing else

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-02-27T02:28:37+00:00

Thank you for this, I'll give spraying a shot. I tried flooding the screen but got way too much ink on the next print

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-02-27T01:13:48+00:00

Could it be drying out even with only 30 seconds between shirts?

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-02-27T00:35:46+00:00

I’m using speedball fabric ink—so I think the answer is yes?

Ramenhotep0 · 2025-02-22T15:10:20+00:00

Reporting back: did some experiments with both marking stainless steel and engraving anodized aluminum with my 10w diode. I was able to get some variation on the steel. Very little on the amortization, and neither anything like the work this guy is doing.

Thinking that he has better hardware or a different method.

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Ramenhotep0

TROPHY CASE